Project Linus

 

OUR MISSION

Project Linus’ mission is to help children in need. At Project Linus, a non-profit organization, we provide homemade blankets to children in need. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life and many different sources. Our mission is two-fold: 1. Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” 2. Provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

WHO WE ARE

Project Linus National Headquarters is located in Bloomington, Illinois. With chapters in all 50 states, Project Linus continues to grow. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug. Find a chapter near you “I am extremely pleased by the outpouring of support Project Linus has enjoyed.” states Carol Babbitt, the organization’s national president. “The comfort brought to a child by a Project Linus security blanket should not be underestimated. Thanks to our many blanketeers and our chapter coordinators, millions of children and their families have been given comfort and security at a time when they need it most. In addition, blanketeers are given an opportunity to use their talents and abilities in a most rewarding way.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are always in need of your help to assist us in fulfilling our mission. You can donate home-made blankets by becoming a “blanketeer,” give of your time at a local chapter event, or even become a Chapter Coordinator yourself. Become a “Blanketeer” Our volunteers, known as “blanketeers,” provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. It is Project Linus' policy to accept blankets of all sizes, depending on local chapter needs. All blanket styles are welcome, including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. Always remember that blankets must be homemade, washable, free of pins, and come from smoke-free environments due to allergy reasons. To help you get started, be sure to check our “Patterns” page. There you will find links to many of our popular, free patterns. Give of Your Time Our local chapters not only collect and distribute blankets but they also organize several blanket-making events throughout the year. Our chapters depend on volunteers to help in every facet of their activities and are always welcome to a “helping hand.” Find the chapter closest to you by clicking your state on the map located on our chapter page.

Donations Help Fulfill Our Mission

Project Linus is comprised of nearly 300 chapters across the United States. All are directed by volunteers who work from their homes. Chapter Coordinators are authorized by Project Linus National Headquarters for an assigned geographical area, and are entitled to the benefits and privileges enjoyed by our 501c3 tax exempt status. Chapter Coordinators are accountable to Project Linus National Headquarters for local activities and funds. How to Make a Donation       Online We make it easy for you to make online donations in any amount and at any frequency you wish: one time, weekly, every other week, monthly, quarterly, twice yearly, and yearly. In addition, it is easier than ever to make contributions as a memorial or honorary gift. Click the Donate Now button to get started. Mail-In If you wish to mail in your monetary donation, then click here to open a donation form. After you have filled-in all appropriate fields then please mail, along with your check or money order (no cash please!) to: Project Linus National Headquarters PO Box 5621 Bloomington, IL 61702-5621

Friends of Project Linus

We depend upon helping hands from thousands of volunteers across the nation who help us collect, make, and distribute blankets to children in need. To these wonderful people we express our heartfelt thanks! We also depend upon helping hands from many businesses who provide monetary and/or product donations to aid us on our mission. We call these our "Friends of Project Linus."

Many Ways to Give

1. Honorary & Memorial Gifts: Accepted throughout the year, these type of gifts are a great way to show you care for birthdays, anniversaries, births, and other special occasions. Donations in lieu of flowers or other memorial gifts are welcome. All honorees and families will be notified at your request. 2. Endowment Fund: Our long-term goal is to raise a million dollars. Income from fund can be generated to help cover our annual operating expenses. There are many ways you can help us reach our endowment goal. Donations of cash, stocks, and/or mutual funds are the most common gifts. Other strategies consist of naming Project Linus as a beneficiary in your will, life insurance, annuities, and/or IRAs. For additional information regarding donations send an e-mail to Giving@projectlinus.org. 3. Holiday Gifts: Make a donation to Project Linus in honor of your friends and family for the next holiday - it will be a gift of love that they will love! For gifts of $25 or more Project Linus will send a beautiful holiday card notification to the honoree of your choice. Project Linus is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Please consult your tax advisor to determine the tax deductibility of your gift.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Letters we have received from blanket recipients: My daughter was admitted to the hospital this weekend. When she arrived to her room she had the cutest quilt waiting for her on her hospital bed. Even though she's almost 11 years old she slept with that quilt the entire time she was there and now it's on her bed at home. I wanted to take the time to say thank you and that it made her experience a more pleasant one. Once again thank you and God bless! My name is Christine and I am 17 years old. I was in a coma from a drug overdose on my 17th birthday and the doctors told my parents I might die because I am extremely anorexic and my weight was at 83 when I went into a coma. The nurses gave me this blanket that somebody from your company made for me and I absolutely love it! It represents a time in my life that God helped me get through and survive. I appreciate it so much and it gave me so much comfort in the hospital. Thank you and I think your company is amazing and a blessing. The hospital even let me take it home. It gives me great comfort and reminds of what I went through. God bless. Our 12 year old son was just released from the hospital yesterday. He had been admitted with a traumatic brain injury about 2 weeks ago. While in the ICU he rec'd a blanket from your organization. He thought someone had given him a blanket that belonged to someone else. He was so very surprised to learn that the blanket was given to him TO KEEP! He used it constantly during his 2 week stay at the hospital. Thank you so much for your love and concern for the children. Tim will have this blanket for a long time and will always remember it was given with love and concern by STRANGERS, wishing him the best. Thank you! Our daughter was born in October 2006 with a congenital heart defect. I was in the hospital as a patient myself after the delivery and did not see our daughter until she was almost 12 hours old. When they took my husband and me into the PICU, it was a bit scary, since she was hooked up to a lot of medical equipment. However, one of the first things I noticed was a beautiful pink blanket with white edging. I was told by one of the nurses that it was from Project Linus. To see this bit of normalcy in such a strange and stark environment soothed us. It seems like such a small thing, but it made a huge impact. It stayed with her during our entire stay at Duke, except during the 4 hours she was in surgery. Our daughter went to surgery when she was six days old to repair a Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA). She still has a slight Ventricular Septal Defect, but her heart is now growing normally to overcome the Hyperplastic Left Heart Syndrome that was caused by the CoA. At just over a year old, she is now considered a healthy child. The beautiful blanket from Project Linus is a keepsake and will always be a bright spot in what was an otherwise scary time for our family. Thank you for sharing your talents and time with families such as ours.  The following letter is a perfect example of the 2nd part of our mission statement regarding the involvement of members of the community. We received this note from the granddaughter of a woman who is interested in becoming a Project Linus blanketeer after receiving a special Christmas gift from her granddaughter. Dear Project Linus: This past Christmas, I made a donation [to Project Linus] in my grandmother’s name as a gift to her, as she is always knitting beautiful blankets scarves etc. for me and for needy members of her church. She loved the gift and mentioned to me that she would really like to make blankets to contribute to Project Linus. Can you tell me how she can participate? …My grandmother is 99 years old and keeps her own home. She’s incredibly bright and “with it” for a woman of her age. She was a school teacher for many years and adores children, so I know she would be really thrilled to have her blankets go to such a lovely cause. Thanks so much. (We all hope that we are active and able enough to take on a new challenge when we’re 99 years old!!! We have since welcomed Helen as one of our new blanketeers!)